Page 74 of Smooth Moves
“That’s what you get.”
He laughed.
“I’m a mess, Cash. Lately, I feel so…not me.”
“Tell me about it.”
She glared.
“Jordan, that’s not me being sarcastic. I mean, sincerely, tell me about it.”
“Oh.” She lost her glare. “I would, but you wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“You always seem so sure of yourself. Even when it comes to getting in trouble, you don’t hesitate. Guy at the gym is getting a beatdown? You go in and knock some heads around. Smith is an asshole? You go at him, face-to-face, not scared of anything. But not me. I’m so unsure of everything lately.” She blinked, and he saw tears.
“Aw, hell. Jordan, talk to me.” He pulled her into his lap and rubbed her back while she cried onto his chest. He hadn’t thought anything could hurt so much, but feeling her tears pained him worse than being knocked in the head.
“I just feel lost. And stupid.”
“You’re the least stupid person I know.” He kissed the top of her head, wanting her to feel better.
“I don’t know what I’m doing with Rafi. He’s been secretive and off the past few days. I have no idea why. I was a shit to my perfect sister.” She hiccupped. “See? I’m being sarcastic about Leanne. And she’s never been anything but nice.”
“I hate nice people,” he grumbled.
Her laugh hitched and turned into a sob. “I was mean about her snotty fiancé.”
“He sounded like a dick.”
She clutched him tighter. “He so is. I hate his teeth and his Stanford education.”
“Me too.” His feelings for Jordan only grew. The woman handled herself at work, did her best by her family, and had helped him more than once, holding her own with him.
“And me. I’m so confused. I like my job with Vets on the Go!, but I know it’s not forever.”
His heart clenched hearing that.
“I don’t want to be sixty and still moving boxes.” She cried harder.
He rocked her, telling her everything would be okay, and let her cry it out.
“I just…I don’t know anything right now. I should be a retired Sergeant Major in another nine years. Instead I’m starting my life over at twenty-nine. I liked the Army, damn it. It’s not fair.” She cried some more until her sobs turned to whimpers.
Cash just held her, understanding so much and wishing he could make things better.
But he couldn’t, so he gave her what he could. He held her tight, and when her breathing evened and she fell asleep, he laid her gently in bed, pulled over the covers, then joined her, holding her close to protect her from the demons he couldn’t see.
* * *
When Jordan woke, the room remained dark, and the snuggly heater behind her tightened the hug around her middle.
She blinked, feeling wrung out. Then she recalled crying her eyes out on Cash’s chest.God, how embarrassing.She had no idea how he’d feel about dealing with a neurotic woman with family issues.
But lying there, she remembered more. How he’d held her tenderly and stroked her hair. How his heartbeat had calmed her and how he’d kept telling her everything would be all right.
He hadn’t judged her, hadn’t told her what to do. He’d listened and been there—exactly what she’d needed.
